dearer

Adjective

dear (comparative dearer or more dear, superlative dearest or most dear)

1. (Ireland, UK, NZ (dated)) High in price; expensive.
   • The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.

   Synonyms:

   costly, lickpenny, spenny, 5-star, big-ticket, chargeful, cheap at half the price, costful, cost-prohibitive, fancy

2. Loved; lovable.
   • "Yes, children dear, wait a bit till it turns itself," she answered - she ought to have said "till I turn it"[.]1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 62

   Synonyms:

   lief, lovely, precious, beloved, favoured, lovable, loved, lovewende, special

3. Lovely; kind.
   • "I've never met the kind of man I mean." "Tell me about him. What does he look like?" "Oh, he might look very much like you." "How dear of you to say that!"1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   benevolent, benign, nice, compassionate, benignant, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, humane, softhearted

4. Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
   • Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.

   Synonyms:

   cordial, fond, warm-hearted, affectionate, caring, soft, friendly, goodhearted, good-natured, heartfelt

5. Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
   • The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!

   Synonyms:

   cherished, treasured, without price, estimable, valuable, worthy, worthly, prizable, treasurous, worth every penny

6. A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
   • Dear Sir/Madam/Miss, please notice our offices will be closed during the following bank holidays:[…].

See all 19 meanings of dear

Adverb

dearly (comparative more dearly or (rare) dearlier, superlative most dearly or (rare) dearliest)

1. In a dear or precious manner.
   • the funeral of our dearly beloved sister
2. In a dear or expensive manner.
   • a dearly priced item
3. At great expense; dear.
   • He paid dearly for his mistake.